Are the Saints good or just average?

jcoll16 · 12-18-2006, 03:54 AM

After the game, ESPN flunkie Sean Salisbury, who I've become increasigly annoyed with as the season progresses due to his comments about the Saints, said that the Saints are not even a good team, but an average one. He went on to say that the etire NFC is average (I've heard that from much of the media).

Therefore, it stands to reason that if the Saints win any playoff games, the media will say that our team is not really good, but have benefited from an average to mediocre conference. Whoever makes it from the NFC, I sincerely hope they beat up or at least seriously challenge the AFC champions in the Super Bowl. Maybe then the NFC and our team will get a little respect. But laying trash out on the field like the Saints did today against Was. will only strengthen the media's claim that the Saints are just average.

LongTimeFan · 12-18-2006, 05:39 AM

They looked average yesterday.
The Saints are the NFC South Champs, I'm happy with that right now.

SaintFanInATLHELL · 12-18-2006, 08:32 AM

The Saints are inconsistent. To the national media, good really means four things:

1) You have a good record.

2) You play consistently, beating the teams you are supposed to beat and competing with other good teams.

3) You play deep into the playoffs.

4) You consistently do the above three items year after year.

A lot of talk has been about how Payton and Brees have turned around the Saints "culture of losing". This speaks to #4.

Note how except for Grossman the Bears are treated differently. Let's see.

1) Good record: 12-2. Check.

2) Beating and competing. They haven't lost to a supposedly horrible team (though they almost did to Arizona) They also have beaten the likes of the Pats and the Seahawks, which are supposedly "good teams" by the definitions above.

3) #1 NFC seed this year, and #2 last year.

4) Consecutive 12 or 13+ win seasons.

So they get the media man love (MML). Teams like Dallas and Pittsburg which have multiple championships and HOF coaches will get the same. Washington would have if they had simply won 2-3 more games. Playoffs last year, HOF coach, multiple championships = MML.

If you want to see this in action think about how Carolina has been thought of this year though they have been stumbling from the beginning of the season. The media has really only stuck a fork in them the last week or two.

I figure the Saints will get no respect from the national media this year short of showing up in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks will get much more playoff press than the Saints because of last year's run. Many will predict they will make noise in playoffs as a #4 seed.

I'm trying to learn not to worry about it. It's aggravating. But I think I understand the mechanics of it now.

SFIAH

mighty12 · 12-18-2006, 08:41 AM

First off the NFC IS average compared to the AFC right now, but I too hope in a shlacking of the AFC in the superbowl.

redjem25 · 12-18-2006, 10:55 AM

You know what it think S**t happens! No team in the NFL is perfect" no perfect records", every team has dropped a few games this year they should not have. (indy,chicago,new england and our saints.) This was a 3-13 team last year,now with a new coach and 20+ new players. Yes, they stunk it up yesterday but we are division champs and in the playoffs. No one believed in us at the beginning of the year, no one had us better than 7-9, more or less going to the playoffs and div. champs. They let it go to their head yesterday, but thats over. They have come too far to let it go down like this. I predicted 11-5 a few months back and I am sticking to it. We will kick some a** the next two weeks and go into the playoffs strong. Whatever happens after that is ???. I don't know but I am enjoying it anyways. No one will ever love our Saints like us, their fans. Maybe they are just ok, average or whatever but Payton is building this team into something special for years to come. Its only the beginning! But.................................................

New Orleans Saints "2006" NFC South Division Champs

Euphoria · 12-18-2006, 11:23 AM

We all agree we have lots of areas we need to improve in... this isn't much of a surprise. If we play a team with a good O-line we will get spanked. We aren't that good yet.

SaintFanInATLHELL · 12-18-2006, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Euphoria

We all agree we have lots of areas we need to improve in... this isn't much of a surprise. If we play a team with a good O-line we will get spanked. We aren't that good yet.

No doubt there. It's the offensive side that worried me yesterday. Other than the one good TD drive, the Saints offense could not get any rhythm yesterday.

My brother made the observation after the game that the offense should have dumbed it down after not having much success. Payton calls plays to keep defenses off balance, but it didn't seem to work yesterday. My brother contended that the Saints should have lined straight up and played power football with Duece, just run it right down Washington's throat.

Someone made the point of the offense wanting to hit the home run. Sometime 4 yards and a cloud of dust is just what you need to get reestablished.

Just a thought. An important one because as we start seeing playoff caliber defenses, being able to be consistent on offense is going to be critical.

SFIAH

SaintPauly · 12-18-2006, 12:56 PM

I think we, as fans of the Saints, need to stop taking the critique personally. I do it too, so I'm not going to preach. I say we come up with a system here in the group, where, when one of us goes off of the deep end, because of an article we read, or an interview we seen, one of us is there to reel them back in. Deal?

As far as the conversation goes, if we beat the Giants this weekend, then all of the people talking smack now, will be right back to kissing our a$$es. That's the way these guys are. They change their SB picks constantly, and never have any consistent information, on anything. Look at them like you would look at a tabloid. They are just out for the story of the week, and that's it. We know how good our team CAN be. They played like crap Sunday, end of story.

It's ok to make mistakes in life, it's not learning from them that makes you ignorant.

GoldRush26 · 12-18-2006, 05:54 PM

I think the Super Bowl can be won by an NFC team if the team comes to play.

The AFC is undoubtedly better overall, but this is what will ultimately contribute to them possibly losing the Super Bowl. Even the teams with 1st round byes will have to go through two Super Bowl caliber teams before they actually get to the Super Bowl.

Whoever comes out of the NFC won't be as beat up. I see it as an advantage.

LongTimeFan · 12-18-2006, 06:12 PM

Aren't we in a rebuilding season?
I said going into the season that the Saints would end the season 7-9 at best, now the Saints are the NFC South Champs, I never imagined they would win the title this season so whatever they do the rest of the season is all extra momentum to build on for next season.
The Saints offense is rated #1 in the NFL so on that side of the ball we're above average, on defense IMO are average at best playing well though as a team and should continue to build on that and see a good defense in the near future.
We all need to enjoy this season, the Saints gave us so much more than what we asked for going into this season

12-18-2006, 08:32 AM	#3
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,647	RE: Are the Saints good or just average? The Saints are inconsistent. To the national media, good really means four things: 1) You have a good record. 2) You play consistently, beating the teams you are supposed to beat and competing with other good teams. 3) You play deep into the playoffs. 4) You consistently do the above three items year after year. A lot of talk has been about how Payton and Brees have turned around the Saints "culture of losing". This speaks to #4. Note how except for Grossman the Bears are treated differently. Let's see. 1) Good record: 12-2. Check. 2) Beating and competing. They haven't lost to a supposedly horrible team (though they almost did to Arizona) They also have beaten the likes of the Pats and the Seahawks, which are supposedly "good teams" by the definitions above. 3) #1 NFC seed this year, and #2 last year. 4) Consecutive 12 or 13+ win seasons. So they get the media man love (MML). Teams like Dallas and Pittsburg which have multiple championships and HOF coaches will get the same. Washington would have if they had simply won 2-3 more games. Playoffs last year, HOF coach, multiple championships = MML. If you want to see this in action think about how Carolina has been thought of this year though they have been stumbling from the beginning of the season. The media has really only stuck a fork in them the last week or two. I figure the Saints will get no respect from the national media this year short of showing up in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks will get much more playoff press than the Saints because of last year's run. Many will predict they will make noise in playoffs as a #4 seed. I'm trying to learn not to worry about it. It's aggravating. But I think I understand the mechanics of it now. SFIAH
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

12-18-2006, 10:55 AM	#5
redjem25 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 203	You know what it think St happens! No team in the NFL is perfect" no perfect records", every team has dropped a few games this year they should not have. (indy,chicago,new england and our saints.) This was a 3-13 team last year,now with a new coach and 20+ new players. Yes, they stunk it up yesterday but we are division champs and in the playoffs. No one believed in us at the beginning of the year, no one had us better than 7-9, more or less going to the playoffs and div. champs. They let it go to their head yesterday, but thats over. They have come too far to let it go down like this. I predicted 11-5 a few months back and I am sticking to it. We will kick some a the next two weeks and go into the playoffs strong. Whatever happens after that is ???. I don't know but I am enjoying it anyways. No one will ever love our Saints like us, their fans. Maybe they are just ok, average or whatever but Payton is building this team into something special for years to come. Its only the beginning! But................................................. New Orleans Saints "2006" NFC South Division Champs
	WHO DAT!

12-18-2006, 12:28 PM	#7
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,647	Originally Posted by Euphoria We all agree we have lots of areas we need to improve in... this isn't much of a surprise. If we play a team with a good O-line we will get spanked. We aren't that good yet. No doubt there. It's the offensive side that worried me yesterday. Other than the one good TD drive, the Saints offense could not get any rhythm yesterday. My brother made the observation after the game that the offense should have dumbed it down after not having much success. Payton calls plays to keep defenses off balance, but it didn't seem to work yesterday. My brother contended that the Saints should have lined straight up and played power football with Duece, just run it right down Washington's throat. Someone made the point of the offense wanting to hit the home run. Sometime 4 yards and a cloud of dust is just what you need to get reestablished. Just a thought. An important one because as we start seeing playoff caliber defenses, being able to be consistent on offense is going to be critical. SFIAH
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

12-18-2006, 05:54 PM	#9
GoldRush26 500th Post Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 594	I think the Super Bowl can be won by an NFC team if the team comes to play. The AFC is undoubtedly better overall, but this is what will ultimately contribute to them possibly losing the Super Bowl. Even the teams with 1st round byes will have to go through two Super Bowl caliber teams before they actually get to the Super Bowl. Whoever comes out of the NFC won't be as beat up. I see it as an advantage.
GoldRush26 500th Post Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 594

12-18-2006, 06:12 PM	#10
LongTimeFan Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 2,403	Aren't we in a rebuilding season? I said going into the season that the Saints would end the season 7-9 at best, now the Saints are the NFC South Champs, I never imagined they would win the title this season so whatever they do the rest of the season is all extra momentum to build on for next season. The Saints offense is rated #1 in the NFL so on that side of the ball we're above average, on defense IMO are average at best playing well though as a team and should continue to build on that and see a good defense in the near future. We all need to enjoy this season, the Saints gave us so much more than what we asked for going into this season
	Rest In Peace JoeSam, thanks for everything my friend.

12-18-2006, 03:54 AM	#1
jcoll16 Registered Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: B. Rouge Posts: 39	Are the Saints good or just average? After the game, ESPN flunkie Sean Salisbury, who I've become increasigly annoyed with as the season progresses due to his comments about the Saints, said that the Saints are not even a good team, but an average one. He went on to say that the etire NFC is average (I've heard that from much of the media). Therefore, it stands to reason that if the Saints win any playoff games, the media will say that our team is not really good, but have benefited from an average to mediocre conference. Whoever makes it from the NFC, I sincerely hope they beat up or at least seriously challenge the AFC champions in the Super Bowl. Maybe then the NFC and our team will get a little respect. But laying trash out on the field like the Saints did today against Was. will only strengthen the media's claim that the Saints are just average.

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12-18-2006, 05:39 AM	#2
LongTimeFan Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 2,403	RE: Are the Saints good or just average? They looked average yesterday. The Saints are the NFC South Champs, I'm happy with that right now.

12-18-2006, 08:41 AM	#4
mighty12 500th Post Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 980 Blog Entries: 1	RE: Are the Saints good or just average? First off the NFC IS average compared to the AFC right now, but I too hope in a shlacking of the AFC in the superbowl.

12-18-2006, 11:23 AM	#6
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	We all agree we have lots of areas we need to improve in... this isn't much of a surprise. If we play a team with a good O-line we will get spanked. We aren't that good yet.

12-18-2006, 12:56 PM	#8
SaintPauly Senior Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 1	I think we, as fans of the Saints, need to stop taking the critique personally. I do it too, so I'm not going to preach. I say we come up with a system here in the group, where, when one of us goes off of the deep end, because of an article we read, or an interview we seen, one of us is there to reel them back in. Deal? As far as the conversation goes, if we beat the Giants this weekend, then all of the people talking smack now, will be right back to kissing our a$$es. That's the way these guys are. They change their SB picks constantly, and never have any consistent information, on anything. Look at them like you would look at a tabloid. They are just out for the story of the week, and that's it. We know how good our team CAN be. They played like crap Sunday, end of story. It's ok to make mistakes in life, it's not learning from them that makes you ignorant.